Sectarian rioting broke out at a cross-border Irish soccer clash at Windsor Park stadium in Belfast on Monday night.

Riot police had to be called into the ground after supporters of Dublin team Shamrock Rovers broke through barriers in the top deck of the North Stand and tried to confront Linfield supporters in another stand behind the goal.

At least one flare was thrown during the disturbances which temporarily halted the Setanta Cup game. A number of seats were also torn from their fixings and hurled onto the pitch from the North Stand.

Police eventually brought the situation inside Northern Ireland's national soccer stadium under control, although both sets of supporters continued to exchange abuse throughout the remainder of the match.

Linfield lost 3-1 on the night and 7-2 on aggregate in a competition which was established to promote soccer throughout the island.

The latest trouble followed disturbances at Shamrock Rovers' home tie in Dublin against Linfield last week when fans of the Belfast side managed to run a union flag up a flagpole inside the Tallaght Stadium.